Tomato 'Mortgage lifter'

Solanum lycopersicum

Mortgage lifter is part of the Solanum genus and is a Tomato variety. Its scientific name is Solanum lycopersicum 'Mortgage lifter'. 'Mortgage lifter' is considered a heirloomOP (open polliated) cultivar. This variety typically blooms in the following colours: Painter yellow. This variety typically produces fruit in the following colours: Alizarin crimson.

Indeterminate, can reach up to 10-feet tall, must be staked. Resistant to verticillium wilt, fusarium, and nematodes. May be prone to splitting in some climates.

A type of Fruit, it mainly grows as an Annual/Perennial plant - which means it typically can have a varying lifetime - from 1 year to several. Mortgage lifter is known for growing to a height of approximately 1.20 metres (3.90 feet). Expect blooming to occur in early summer.

United States is believed to be where Mortgage lifter originates from.

Typically, Mortgage lifter Tomato is normally fairly low maintenance and can thus be quite easy to grow - only a basic level of care is required throughout the year to ensure it thrives. Being aware of the basic growing conditions this plant likes (soil, sun and water) will result in a strong and vibrant plant.

This variety plant info is provided by the myfolia gardener's wiki. All details about Mortgage lifter have been kindly provided by our members.

How to grow Mortgage lifter

Full Sun

Medium

Stake or cage plants. Fertilize when first fruits form to increase yield.

Mortgage lifter likes a position of full sun and remember to water moderately. Keep in mind when planting that Mortgage lifter is thought of as tender, so remember to wait until your soil is warm and the night time temperature is well above freezing before moving outside. Use USDA Hardiness Zone 3 - 14 as your guideline for the appropriate climate for this plant. Mortgage lifter requires a loamy soil with a ph of 5.0 - 6.0 - it grows best in moderately acidic soil to weakly acidic soil.

Growing Mortgage lifter from seed

Sow 6-8 weeks before last spring frost. Sow seed 1/4" deep. Keep moist. Germination is in 7-14 days at 70-80F

Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 2.60 feet (80.0 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.78 inches (2.0 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 12°C / 54°F to ensure good germination.

By our calculations, you should look at sowing Mortgage lifter about 42 days before your last frost date.

Transplanting Mortgage lifter

Transplant out when around 15cm (6 inches) high.

Plant to first set of leaves to promote strong roots.

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Mortgage lifter is a tender plant.

M.C. Byles was the creator of this tomato. He used it to save his house, selling it for a dollar per plant in the 1940’s in order to pay off his mortgage. When his radiator repair business slumped during the Great Depression, he started cross-breeding his four best tomato plants, until he came up with a stable derivation which he felt tasted better and had larger fruit. He promoted it as being able to feed a family of six, therefore getting the sky-high price of one dollar per plant, and paying off his house in just four years.